In December, she pleaded with juvenile court officials to send her son, Zachary, to an inpatient program designed to help teens
diagnosed with autism. Maxson feared the next time Zachary — who had just recently turned 17 — got into trouble, he'd be heading for adult court.

She was right.

On Monday, Zachary remained in jail, charged with two felony counts of assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer and aggravated domestic violence, a misdemeanor. He could face two years in prison.

"It's what I told the courts in December," Maxson said Monday morning. "This is my worst fear coming true."

At the home, the deputies confiscated a set of nail clippers from Zachary. While the deputies talked to him, Zachary stood up, ran down a hallway, grabbed another set of nail clippers and ran at the deputies. One deputy received cuts on her hand; the other had a cut on his shoulder.

Deputies used Tasers on Zachary twice and pepper spray once while trying to arrest him and place him in the back of a patrol car. He was arraigned Friday afternoon.

Maxson watched the whole scene, saying it was terrifying for a mother to see.

"I screamed. I cried," she said.

She does not agree with the description of events reported by the sheriff's office. Initial reports stated Zachary had used a knife. It was later clarified that he used a knife-like file tool included in a set of nail clippers. She said the sheriff's office has not interviewed members of the family who watched the incident.

Maxson was hesitant to talk about what happened Thursday night. Zachary has an attorney, and Maxson did not want to say something that could jeopardize the legal process.

She wants police officers to undergo training to learn more about autism and how to handle people with the diagnosis.

Rand commended his deputies for showing restraint. The situation could have easily escalated and involved deadly force, he said Friday.

Zachary and his family have been working with his diagnosis for years. He sees doctors and specialists. His family spends hundreds of dollars on medications. Bright, creative and passionate, he has the potential to function in and contribute to society with the right help, his family and psychiatrist said.

On Nov. 16, sheriff's deputies took Zachary to the Jackson County Youth Center after he punched his mother. It was the fourth time the family had to involve the police, and the first time charges — domestic violence — were sought. Zachary celebrated his 17th birthday at the youth center.

Maxson wanted more. She wanted Zachary placed in a school designed for teens with autism. She wanted the judge to send him to the Montcalm School for Boys run by Starr Commonwealth in Albion. Before Zachary's hearing in December, Maxson lobbied everyone she could think of to support her push.

“He either gets residential treatment, and we have a son and a productive member of society. Or he doesn’t get the treatment he needs, and we lose him completely,” Maxson said in December before the hearing. “And we don’t want to lose Zachary.”

When reached by phone Friday morning, Maxson was in tears.

"My worst fear came true," she sobbed.

Zachary had made progress since the December hearing, He was accepted into the Montcalm School, but the family cannot afford the $7,000 to $8,500 monthly tuition, Maxson said. Lifeways connected the family with Integro, a behavioral health care company. Since the beginning of the year, Integro has been working with Zachary in the home and doing it pro bono.

The Maxsons are middle class. Susan Maxson is an elementary school teacher. Her husband of 20 years, Ross Maxson, was laid off three years ago and is still looking for work.

Until Thursday, there had only been one "tense moment" with Zachary since December, Maxson said. Her son seemed to be moving in the right direction.

Zachary spent the weekend in jail and was still there Monday afternoon. He is being held on a $1,000 bond. Zachary has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 28.Contact Aaron Aupperlee at aaupperl@mlive.com or 517-768-4927. Follow him on Twitter @tinynotebook or subscribe on Facebook.